Demler Brothers Egg Ranch is proposing a newwastewater handling system to address one of the major issues that resulted in a cease-and-desist order from the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. The order against Demler Brothers, often referred to by its former name of Pine Hill, was issued in November 2023 after a three-year investigation over complaints about odors and possibly contaminated water runoff at the facility at 25818 Highway 78 in Ramona. The improper discharge of wastewater used for washing eggs produced at the ranch resulted in the contamination of two nearby creeks and stormwater basins, water board staff reported. Although water board inspectors originally found high levels of ammonium-nitrate and phosphorus at the egg ranch, later tests found almost no contaminants after the facility began putting all of the egg wash wastewater into temporary holding tanks and hauling it offsite.  The new wastewater system will feature 34 above-ground, double-lined evaporation ponds housed in four barns.

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